4th Sunday of OT Year A Homily

The Prophet Zephaniah presents us with the image of a people who have been restored. They are restored not by the pursuit of wealth or power, but through their interior transformation. Therefore, God promises that a remnant will be left behind who will exhibit the virtue of humility through their willingness to not speak lies or practice deceit.

This vision that has been given to us through Zephaniah finds its fulfillment in the Beatitudes. Jesus climbed this mountain in order to speak and in doing so He looked out upon such a remnant. It was these people who were found to be poor in spirit, meek, and pure of heart. It is these individuals through such attributes who exhibit a freedom that the world cannot give.

The prophet stresses that this remnant speaks with no lies when pasturing their flock. As people of faith one cannot live with a sense of duplicity. One cannot live a double life where they say one thing, and yet do another. Those in this remnant act with great integrity because their faith has been integrated into who they are as a human person.

As Catholics we must be willing to be this remnant in the midst of this world. Through our baptism we are called to a specific way of life. Through our hunger and thirst for righteousness as shown in the Beatitudes we begin to reflect the very character of Christ Himself. By living out our life in such a way we become a contradiction to what is often exhibited in our culture.

As we approach Christ present with us in the Eucharist let us be willing to take upon ourself such simplicity. Wherever there is any duplicity found within us let it come to be pruned away through Christ’s mercy. Let us be willing to be this remnant in the midst of this world in order that we may always come to live out the faith without compromise.

3rd Sunday of OT Year A Homily

The ancient prophecy of Isaiah has come to be fulfilled, “The people who sat in darkness have a seen a great light.” This is not just a historical note, but is a reality that continues to take hold over our life. We walk through the darkness of isolation, grief, or a world that is divided. Nevertheless, it is Christ who enters as the Dawn which never sets.

January 25th also serves as the date for the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. He was moved from the darkness of persecution to the light of Christ on the road which led to Damascus. Paul’s life serves to us as a reminder that nobody is beyond the reach of God’s grace. We are called to join with Paul in encountering such a light which comes in order to transform our heart.

In our Epistle Saint Paul pleads there there be “no dissensions among you” in order that we may always be “united in the same mind and the same judgement.” It is unity which allows the light of faith to burn brightly. It is division which causes such light to flicker thus poorly effecting our homes, city, country, and world.

As a Church we remain united as one diocesan family under the unity of our bishop and our holy father, Leo. Through such unity the great light of Christ shines brightly for the world to see. Next weekend our diocese we observe the annual bishop’s appeal for ministries which allows each of us to join the efforts of the diocese in order that they may continue to be made manifest.

Through this appeal many ministries come to be supported through your generosity. We are able to provide “light” to the seminarians discerning their call to priesthood and support those in deacon formation. We bring “light” to those who find themselves in need through the support of Catholic Charities and the Mobile Medical Clinic. 

Together we are also able bring “light” to our youth and young adults. Our culture often presents a dim outlook, but the Church provides a brilliant light through the truth of the Gospel. This includes providing for the needs of Christian Faith Formation where we assist our children in finding their footing on this path which leads to holiness.

Each gift when gathered which others become a fire which brings forth hope to those who encounter it. It must be our fervent hope that all come to discover this great light which comes to us from Christ. So many have thrust down into darkness and it is Christ alone who can lift them out of it.

Let us ask for the grace of a true conversion in order that we may be like Saint Paul who beheld the great light of Christ. Let us join with our bishop in supporting the annual bishop’s appeal for ministries in order that we may join within the unity of this diocese by supporting those many ministries which make it up ensuring that through our unified support, more souls may be lifted out of darkness and into the light of Christ.

2nd Sunday of OT Year A Homily

Ember Days are an ancient tradition of the Church. They were three days set aside (Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday) at the start of each of the four seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter) for fasting and prayer. This practice would give one the opportunity to look to the field in order to give thanks for all that God had given them. On the Saturdays ordinations would take place for these were the spiritual first fruits gathered to be given to God.

Today we observe “Called by Name Sunday” where we are given an invitation to look at our own community as being such sacred soil. A farmer would set out to his field to look for the first signs of the ripening crop and so too the Lord walks among us looking for those first fruits who have been called by name to serve Him as a priest or in a religious community.

The scriptures give us many who have been called by name. These include the likes of Abraham, Moses, Samuel, and Mary. In each of these cases an individuals life has been redirected towards a supernatural end. This is also true for those who are called by name to be a priest or enter a religious community.

We must pray and offer sacrifice for vocations. If we do not have priests we would not have the Eucharist. It must be our fervent prayer that we as a community identify those first fruits among us and to support them with our prayers and sacrifices. For this reason you have been asked to fill out the form allowing us as a community to name those first fruits who may be among us.

Such a harvest cannot take place in a desert. It requires the soil of a supportive community which includes one’s own family. In our parish’s resent survey for diocesan strategic planning it was found that only 3% of this parish has encouraged someone to a priest and 4% has encouraged someone to enter a religious community.

I was blessed to have parishioners in my life including my own pastor to invite me to be a priest. This was something already in the back of my mind due to my desire to pursue truth, but I still needed the encouragement of others. Through such a call I was willing to respond and was willing to enter seminary right out of high school. I became the first fruit of Notre Dame Parish in Greenville that was collected and offered to the Lord.

Saint John the Baptist invites, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” Such an invitation brings us into communion with Him. Through such a relationship we come know to know Him, but also go wherever He calls. As the Prophet Isaiah stated in our 1st reading, “You are my servant.” No matter the fear that gives rise let us be willing to abandon our nets and follow Him.

Please leave your card with pencil in the collection, leave it at the vocation table at the gathering area, or bring it next weekend to Mass to leave in the offertory. As we are told in Saint Matthew’s Gospel, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Baptism of the Lord Year A Homily

Today we observe the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The Lord’s baptism is important because it foreshadows what will come for us through our own baptism as well as the effects which have been brought about through the Cross and Resurrection. This celebration assists us in looking ahead to what these life giving water mean for us.

By stepping into the river Jesus sanctifies the water that He touches. He descends into the place of repentance in order that sinners may come to rise to new life. Through His descent we acknowledge that Christ enters into death itself in order that we may come to be liberated from its grasp over us.

At His baptism the heavens came to open. Through such an action a proclamation is being made concerning what the cross will accomplish. It was sin which closed the door between Heaven and earth, but it is Christ who dies in order that this barrier may be lifted. Upon the cross His side would be pierced and blood and water symbolic of of the Eucharist and baptism would flow from this wound.

As the voice stated at His baptism, “You are my beloved Son.” These words are true of Christ because He is God the Son. The same words must also be made true within us, for each of us, are called to order our life towards Him. Our call is not to sin, failure, or death, but belonging through our relationship with Christ.

All of this must challenge us to live as a people who have truly been set free from such bonds. If we have died to sin and risen with Christ, then we cannot live as though sin and death still have rule over us. Our words and choices must reflect that freedom that we have received through our baptism. Through baptism we are called upon to reject that which enslaves in order to live with true Christian dignity.

Some falsely act as if baptism is an action which only affects the past. We must remember that through baptism we are given an indelible mark which never goes away even with death. Despite only being baptized once those graces of this sacrament continue to be found at work within our life to this day and beyond.

Baptism is not a superstitious action where one is able to live as they wish because they have been baptized. Rather, we are called to an authentic life of faith that is integrated into who we are as a Christian. As Saint Paul remarks, “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?”

Let us continue to renew that which was begun within us at our baptism. Each of us must strive for such renewal in order that our life may be lived for Christ. It is He who entered into the Jordan and conquered the grave and thus it is He who continues to lead us from these waters, through the cross, and into eternal life.

Epiphany Year A Homily

Jerusalem was not at the height of it’s strength. They were a people who had known exile, darkness, and disappointment. The temple had been destroyed and now their future was left uncertain. Nevertheless, they were told by the prophet Isaiah, “Your light has come” It is this great light which shines in the midst of the darkness bringing hope to whatever it touches.

This Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord is the declaration of this hope fulfilled. The light which was foretold by Isaiah was not just an idea, but a person. This light takes on a face, a name, and a human heart. This light is Jesus Christ and He has been revealed not only to a nation, but to the whole world.

Isaiah says, “Darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples.” We live in world which continues to know of such darkness. There is division, violence, and fear that continues to enter into our human condition. We have been touched by grief, loneliness, and sin. To such darkness we must come to believe that the “light has come.”

Isaiah goes onto say that “nations shall walk by your light.” The light of Christ has not entered into this world in order that it may remain hidden. Like the star that guided the magi by its light towards Christ must we continue to lead others towards Him. We can only complete such a task if we are found willing to encounter the Lord and to depart changed by Him.

The Magi came to notice this light. They trusted in it and thus they journeyed towards it. They persevered whenever the road before them became rough. Finally, they were able to encounter Christ and from this encounter they were left forever changed. Through this encounter they did not return the same way and so too they did not return to their ways of old.

This morning we are blessed to have those with us who will soon make a Profession of Faith. In doing so they will proclaim their faith in Christ and His Church and they will come to be confirmed and make their first communion. They have set their sight upon Christ who is the great light and now their life will always be transformed by Him.

Let all of us “rise up in splendor” for our “light has come.” Let us not attempt to put such a light “under a bushel basket,” but “set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house.” We must allow Christ to illuminate our life in all that we do. We who have encountered Him have been forever changed by such an interaction and so let us never turn back.